# Incident 20070720826129I: Lakeac 250(LAKE), Coldwater, MI, July 20, 2007

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2007, 17:00 local time
- Place: Coldwater, MI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9460° N, 84.9993° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coldwater, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9460&lon=-84.9993&mi=10
- Aircraft: N826WR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N826WR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerofab LAKE LA-250 (registry code 5110321, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-la-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKEAC 250(LAKE)
- Reported engine: LYC IO540C4B5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,645 total, 1,297 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070720826129I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON THE EVENING OF JULY 20TH, 2007, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOOK OFF FROM HIS RESIDENCE AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD FOR A SHORT SIGHTSEEING TRIP. THEY LANDED AT BRANCH COUNTY MEMORIAL AIRPORT IN COLDWATER, MI. FOR FUEL. THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED AROUND 22 GALS OF 100LL. PRIOR TO DEPARTING HE DID HIS PREFLIGHT CHECK LIST AND DID NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 7 WITH THE INTENT OF RETURNING TO CLEAR LAKE, IN. AFTER TURNING SOUTH AT ABOUT 1800' MSL THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO INCREASE RPM RAPIDLY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE A BACKFIRE AND THEN QUIT RUNNING. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LAND. AT THAT MOMENT HE SPOTTED A SOYBEAN FIELD JUST BELOW AND TO THE WEST. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMING IN FAIRLY FAST AND LANDED IT WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT EXPEDITIOUSLY WITHOUT INCIDENT OR INJURY. AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE/HULL AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE SPONSONS LOCATED ON THE WINGS. THE LOGBOOKS FOR AIRCRAFT N826WR REVEALED THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE WERE ANNUALLY INSPECTED JANUARY 10, 2007. THE ENGINE WAS SENT TO POPLAR GROVE AIRMOTIVE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE. THE RECOMMENDED TBO FOR THE LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 ACCORDING TO THE LYCOMING SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1009AK IS 2000 HRS. THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 2035.1 HRS ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF INSPECTOR IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN M OR D REPORT WILL BE FILED WITH THE FAA.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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